CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—A multiyear
collaboration has
been announced between Foundation Medicine Inc. and
Eisai Co. Ltd. to focus on genomic profiling and diagnostic discovery
in
a multi-site, international clinical trial of a targeted
therapeutic candidate from Eisai. The collaboration will seek to
identify genomic alterations
in each patient's tumor in order to
inform patient stratification, guide drug development decisions and
potentially lead to the commercialization of
new molecular
diagnostics. Though no specific details were released, Foundation
Medicine will receive an upfront payment and be eligible for future
diagnostic rights.

"This collaboration with Foundation
Medicine, utilizing their depth of molecular oncology
knowledge and
ability to partner on a global scale, will help Eisai better
understand the genomic makeup of each patient as we work to deliver
new
targeted treatments that may benefit patients," said Dr.
Takashi Owa, chief innovation officer at Eisai.